Pinuruh Langsat
by the Community of Dusun Minokok, Keningau
The Pinuruh Langsat motif draws its inspiration from the clustered langsat fruit, a symbol of abundance and prosperity. Just as the langsat grows in clusters, offering a bounty of sweet nourishment, the motif represents plentiful blessings, communal sharing, and the generosity of nature. Its visual rhythm captures the sense of growth, continuity, and vitality inherent in both the fruit and the culture that surrounds it.
Beyond its symbolism of abundance, the langsat holds deep cultural significance for the community. It reflects a harmonious relationship with the natural environment, where local flora not only sustains livelihoods but also informs artistic expression. Its aesthetic appeal—rounded shapes, clustered forms, and delicate details—translates beautifully into weaving patterns, allowing artisans to blend beauty with meaning.
The motif also carries storytelling potential, connecting each piece to oral traditions, local myths, and seasonal rituals associated with harvesting and consumption. Through its ties to culinary and agricultural heritage, the Pinuruh Langsat pattern embodies the interwoven nature of everyday life, art, and ecological knowledge, serving as a visual narrative of culture, abundance, and the enduring bond between people and their environment.
About the Community
The Dusun Minokok are one of the subgroups within the wider Dusun ethnic family in Sabah, with communities primarily found in the Keningau district. Like many Dusun groups, the Minokok maintain deep ancestral ties to the land, living in close relationship with the forests, rivers, and agricultural landscapes that shape their daily life.
Their culture carries the hallmarks of Dusunic heritage—strong communal bonds, a rich oral tradition, and a worldview rooted in respect for nature and the spiritual realm. Traditional knowledge, including farming practices, forest harvesting, and craftsmanship, continues to be passed down through generations, keeping cultural memory alive even as modern influences grow.
The Minokok language variety, though related to other Dusun dialects, carries its own nuances in vocabulary and expression, reflecting the community’s unique identity within the broader cultural mosaic of Sabah. Music, dance, and seasonal rituals remain important markers of community life, offering moments to honour ancestors, celebrate harvests, and reinforce shared values.
Today, while many Dusun Minokok individuals move between rural and urban settings for education and work, efforts to preserve their cultural roots remain strong. Their traditions, values, and heritage continue to contribute to the rich diversity of Keningau and the cultural tapestry of Sabah as a whole.
About the Artists
This group of Dusun Minokok women artists — Emily Binti Jeneble, Linih Binti Barah, Memi Petrus, Julimah Kalugu, Rut Insu, Yadia Emok, Asinih Barah, Rajia Emok, Julianah Yayup, Alita Marot, and Buntong Kalugu — represents the creative strength and cultural heritage of their community in Keningau.
Their work draws from traditional knowledge passed down through generations, using natural materials and motifs inspired by the land, daily life, and ancestral stories. Together, they preserve and celebrate Minokok identity through their craft, ensuring that their cultural traditions continue to thrive and be shared with wider audiences.